There are a range of non-deadly force options available to peace officers, including impact weapons, control holds, chemical agents, electronic weapons, deescalation, etc.  Currently, POST requires students to be tested on baton and control holds, but does not allow for the testing of other non-deadly force options, to include deescalation. 

POST is proposing to merge the existing baton and control hold scenario testing requirements into one non-deadly force test option. This report covers revisions to the Training and Testing Specifications for Learning Domain 20 Use of Force/Deescalation (Attachment A).

Should the Commission approve the proposed regulation as enumerated in this report?

In January 2006, POST revised the scenario testing process and created two Learning Domain 20 force option categories, deadly and non-deadly.  In addition to these two scenario tests, POST required an additional Impact Weapon Exercise Test.

In July 2009, the Impact Weapon testing requirement was modified from an exercise test to the only non-deadly force scenario test option (baton).

In January 2012, in response to presenter feedback, POST added a second non-deadly force scenario test option (control hold).  

With the recent legislative changes and the addition of deescalation to Learning Domain 20, POST recognized the need for students to be provided the option to utilize any non-deadly force options available during the testing process.  Rather than focusing on only the baton and control hold options, POST would like to allow students to use appropriate non-deadly force options during scenario testing to include deescalation when appropriate.

The proposed changes to the Training and Testing Specifications will eliminate the restriction of only two non-deadly force options and allow presenters the opportunity to evaluate students on any non-deadly force option available to them, to include the use of deescalation techniques when appropriate. 

The proposed changes are consistent with the priorities of the legislature for deescalation in law enforcement training.

Staff recommends the Training and Testing Specifications be amended pursuant to the rulemaking process and the Office of Administrative Law.

The proposed changes will become effective October 1, 2020.